You owe it to former players who have sacrificed in the past. Those who put the team and the program ahead of themselves. Who have become the measuring stick for our opponents.
You owe it to future players who may sit in the stands and already know what number they want on their uniform.
You owe it to your teammates and to yourself. If you can honestly say that you've given your best, physically and mentally, then you have become part of tradition.
Tradition is building upon past successes-but it is not re-building. There are no short-cuts in tradition. "It is hard, it is supposed to be hard. If it was easy anyone could do it and you wouldn't be special. The hard is what makes it good."
TRADITION means you are never playing alone. Each pass, hit or serve is helped by former players twisting and turning their bodies, helping the ball get over the net. They agonize with each loss and celebrate each win. You may not know their names and you may never meet them. They know you- they know everything you are going through. The bad days and good. The pasta parties, the conditioning, the bus rides, the long talks, the preparartion for the matches. They may be at college or at work. They may get a phone call or newspapers from home to tell them the latest SHS Volleyball news. During the season you will see some walk through the gym door. They know. They root for you because when you win, they win, again. They are happy and envious at the same time. They remember how special they were as a team and somehow if SHS Volleyball is still speacial--they are still a part of it.
TRADITION is what makes SHS Volleyball so special.
...And you are one of the special players chosen to carry it on.